[The following is written as a response to the many complaints posted about E*Trade's system crash on February 3rd]

Subject: Re: ETrade system troublesAuthor: rghjr1

Caveat Emptor

There is a maxim that every online trader should know and accept before using real money, "There
are inherent risks associated with online trading" including but not limited to:
- downtime from online brokerages caused by, among others
~heavy volume crashing the systems,
~power outages,
- internet associated problems that are beyond the control of said brokerages
~line breaks or assorted downtimes of backbone, ISP, phone lines, etc.
If you don't know this, or can't accept this, then get off the internet.

What do you people do when/if the power/phone goes out? Do you gripe at the utility for costing
you money due to missed trading opportunities?

"The point here is, educate and protect yourself, and you are partly to blame for any losses incurred. If you need to trade constantly, take obvious precautions like employing limits, secondary
accounts, level II, etc."

The point here is, educate and protect yourself, and you are partly to blame for any losses
incurred. If you need to trade constantly, take obvious precautions like employing limits, secondary
accounts, level II, etc. This company is growing very rapidly, and will encounter these types of
issues. They know it's bad for business, and they are trying to mitigate future risks, I guarantee it.

Also, if your jumping ship for another account, be prepared to gripe some more. AMTD (good
luck here) has constantly had problems, Datek as well, Schwab, Waterhouse, Suretrade, etc. It's a question of
limited capacity, not poor business practice or customer service.

I would be amazed and humbled if everyone here who griped today came back and lauded the
performance tomorrow, and I am confident tomorrow will be flawless, just like 99.5% of previous
days have been.

The Post of the Day may be edited for readability or length, but never for content. The opinions expressed in the Posts are those of their authors, and not necessarily The Motley Fool. We make no claim or warranty as to the veracity or accuracy of any post, and present this feature only as an example of what may be found on our message boards. Don't take the Post of the Day, or anything else here, as gospel and, as our seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Peacock, used to say, do your own homework, and avoid run-on sentences.